Some people would call him vain. The nicer ones would refer to his social media antics as "strongly opinionated" whereas others would just say he is "panira ng trip". One thing is for sure: Siege Malvar has got to be one of the bitchiest persons in my Facebook friends list. I love him.
Siege Malvar is also the author of one of the books I've enjoyed most this year. A definite jump from his previous books, Wakasang Wasak is, much like Sir Siege himself, a dare to what is conventionally defined as good literature. I think literary purist would frown upon his tabloid-style literature. I think he makes it a point to piss off a lot of people just because it's fun. He certainly stepped on a lot of toes, particularly when he killed off a sparkly pedophile vampire in one of the bonus stories. I could almost here the fan girls screaming.
Wakasang Wasak is a collection of three novellas focusing on three lady protagonists who are, in their own right, strong women. One is a woman of the world, a successful, beautiful woman who can't seem to find true love outside the many good (and not-so-good) lays she's having (Kama ni Stella). Another is a probinsyana-turned- call center girl who is determined to win her town's most prestigious pageant (Mutya ng San Isidro). And of course there's the character that I really love - the demon arse-kicking, sparkly-vampire-killing witch (Where Angels Fear to Dance).To top it all off, the genre is horror. You can see why I've gone gaga about this.
My favorite in the collection is Mutya ng San Isidro. Don't get me wrong. I'm no pageant junkie. When Philippine reps kept landing on the op spots of international beauty contest, I thought it was cool, then immediately turned my attention to what I thought were more progressive thoughts... like the lunch menu. Mutya ng San isidro is not your typical beauty pageant story, however. Written with a biting humor and an unapologetic the penchant for cuss, this novella tells of a probinsyana who asks her fabulous baklang best friend to help her train for the most prestigious beauty contest in her home town. And so comes the bitchy/witty side comments about goody-goody pageant rival, the tormenting practice of how to walk in high heels, the occasional lusting-over-that-hot-probinsyano-boy moments, and a bit of discussion about the cult of the Flying Spaghetti monster. And of course there's the mystery of why some people in town are very much against their daughters entering the contest to be the town's next Mutya.
Mutya ng San Isidro is a nod to Stephen King's common theme of the horrors of a small town. It also touches heavily on the issues of superstitious beliefs (which we Filipinos are quite prone to) as well as secularism and some religion's obvious interference with Philippine governance. I think it's these issues that make Mutya ng San Isidro terrifying - that superstitious beliefs can have such a hold in a person (or in a town, in this case) that it can affect the lives of people - or the lack thereof. Quite fitting, since something like this is still happening today in what is supposedly a sane, logical society.
If you're into reading about a girl kick arse both with her fists and with magic, then you'd probably enjoy Where Angels Fear to Dance. Our protaginist here is kind of klike Alexanda Trese, except with a great deal more bitchiness. Where Angels Fear to Dance has a great deal of magic and action, plus some celestial orgasm. It also pokes fun at some of pop culture's more dubious 2013 creations, such as Gangnam Style.
For many people, Wakasang Wasak may be a joke. I think it partially is. After all, jokes are always funny and I've spent quite a lot of time laughing at the characters' interactions and how the author wove the story into life (and in all the most inappropriate places as well - like the van from Ayala to Paranaque). I have also been intensely terrified by the reflection of the real world intertwined with man-eating beds and gays lusting over hot men. The fear of empowered women, the intervention of religion on politics and legislation, the power of superstition, especially on uneducated people, and a peak at the industry which capitalizes on women's desire to complement what society thinks is beautiful.
It is the writing style and the themes of the book which makes Wakasang Wasak something to take seriously - while having a good laugh at the same time.
P.S.: I would have taken a photo of me reading it, but I can't find my damned book T_T
WARNING! There may be spoilers.
Kama ni Stella makes me want to read Lovecraft. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have yet to be introduced to the Mythos (yet I have the gall to call myself a horror fan - somebody give me a Lovecraft book!). Kama ni Stella tells of a story of an independent, beautiful, strong-willed woman who - surprise - has difficulty finding true love. Of course, there's the occasional romp in the haystack, but after the sex, she gets left behind. Sounds familiar? The story also touches on the delicate issue of rape. Then, of course, there are the more titillating aspects of the story, such as tentacle porn. Not familiar with it? Google and...erm... enjoy, if you're in to those stuff,
My favorite in the collection is Mutya ng San Isidro. Don't get me wrong. I'm no pageant junkie. When Philippine reps kept landing on the op spots of international beauty contest, I thought it was cool, then immediately turned my attention to what I thought were more progressive thoughts... like the lunch menu. Mutya ng San isidro is not your typical beauty pageant story, however. Written with a biting humor and an unapologetic the penchant for cuss, this novella tells of a probinsyana who asks her fabulous baklang best friend to help her train for the most prestigious beauty contest in her home town. And so comes the bitchy/witty side comments about goody-goody pageant rival, the tormenting practice of how to walk in high heels, the occasional lusting-over-that-hot-probinsyano-boy moments, and a bit of discussion about the cult of the Flying Spaghetti monster. And of course there's the mystery of why some people in town are very much against their daughters entering the contest to be the town's next Mutya.
Mutya ng San Isidro is a nod to Stephen King's common theme of the horrors of a small town. It also touches heavily on the issues of superstitious beliefs (which we Filipinos are quite prone to) as well as secularism and some religion's obvious interference with Philippine governance. I think it's these issues that make Mutya ng San Isidro terrifying - that superstitious beliefs can have such a hold in a person (or in a town, in this case) that it can affect the lives of people - or the lack thereof. Quite fitting, since something like this is still happening today in what is supposedly a sane, logical society.
If you're into reading about a girl kick arse both with her fists and with magic, then you'd probably enjoy Where Angels Fear to Dance. Our protaginist here is kind of klike Alexanda Trese, except with a great deal more bitchiness. Where Angels Fear to Dance has a great deal of magic and action, plus some celestial orgasm. It also pokes fun at some of pop culture's more dubious 2013 creations, such as Gangnam Style.
For many people, Wakasang Wasak may be a joke. I think it partially is. After all, jokes are always funny and I've spent quite a lot of time laughing at the characters' interactions and how the author wove the story into life (and in all the most inappropriate places as well - like the van from Ayala to Paranaque). I have also been intensely terrified by the reflection of the real world intertwined with man-eating beds and gays lusting over hot men. The fear of empowered women, the intervention of religion on politics and legislation, the power of superstition, especially on uneducated people, and a peak at the industry which capitalizes on women's desire to complement what society thinks is beautiful.
It is the writing style and the themes of the book which makes Wakasang Wasak something to take seriously - while having a good laugh at the same time.
P.S.: I would have taken a photo of me reading it, but I can't find my damned book T_T
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